Lions remember David (Deacon) Jones

Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun06.05.2013

In this Aug. 3, 2002 file photo, Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones presents the late coach George Allen for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Jones, the original sackmaster, has died. The Hall of Fame defensive end credited with terming the word sack for how he knocked down quarterbacks, was 74. The Washington Redskins said that Jones died of natural causes at his home in Southern California on Monday night, June 3, 2013.Mark Duncan, File
/ AP

Keron Williams of the B.C. Lions puts the grab on quarterback Darian Durant of the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they played in CFL action at BC Place in Vancouver, August 19, 2012. The BC Lions won the game 24-5.Stuart Davis
/ PNG

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KAMLOOPS — Roy Shivers, the 72-year-old player personnel director of the B.C. Lions, was lamenting the fact that football players of the modern era know little about the history of their sport. Their empty tank of knowledge turns the old warrior into a state of dudgeon.

“It’s a different day, man,” Shivers admitted Wednesday, during training camp at Hillside Stadium. “That’s what upsets me with some of these kids today. They don’t know who went before them. I could throw out the name of Deacon Jones, and they wouldn’t know who in the hell I’m talking about. Hell, a lot of baseball players don’t know who Jackie Robinson is.”

Regarded as the greatest sack artist in National Football League history -- the man who actually coined the term “sack” -- David (Deacon) Jones died this week of natural causes at age 74 in California.

Shivers, a running back with the St. Louis Cardinals of that era, knew “Deac” as a member of the Los Angeles Ram’s Fearsome Foursome, a defensive end who relentlessly tracked down his prey, collaring even elusive QBs such as Fran Tarkenton, a ‘60s versions of Doug Flutie. His aim in life was to put every quarterback he touched in the hospital. And some did.

“He’d never lighten up, even in interviews,” Shivers said of Jones. “He was always trying to kill the s.o.b. He was probably the most physically gifted defensive end I’ve ever seen.”

In 1995, when Shivers and Wally Buono both worked for the Calgary Stampeders, Jones served as the team’s “goodwill ambassador” for one season, when the Stamps were owned by Larry Ryckman and lost the 83rd Grey Cup game to Baltimore.

“I got to know Deac and I got to fire him,” said Buono, who was then the Stamps coach and GM. “We just couldn’t afford him. We had no money.”

Just to test Shivers’ theory that most of today’s athletes live in a box when it comes to sports history, the Vancouver Sun polled two of the more aware Lions -- defensive back Korey Banks and defensive lineman Keron Williams -- about Jones. Were they aware of him?

“Deacon Jones was the man,” Banks said. “You see the way he looks? I can get scared just looking at him. Deacon Jones, Jack Lambert, Mean Joe Greene . . . they’re the pioneers of defence. Omigosh. When I see films of them playing back in the day, I’m thinking ‘I could never play football.’ They were intimidating. That’s why they are who they are.”

Williams, who dabbles in cinematography and documentary film making, said he loves watching NFL and CFL footage from the 1960s, when the game was a rawer, more visceral and less glamorous version of the one played today.

“The great Deacon Jones was very special,” Williams said. “You’d see a guy just overwhelming the offensive linemen and giving them that crazy helmet slap (Deacon’s trademark). In those days, the rules were no-holds-barred. They went out and played for greatness. The grit and the grunge of football on grass and dirt back in the day . . . that’s really football. They were modern gladiators. Pain was everywhere. It was real. It’s a treat to watch.”

ALBRIGHT ALL RIGHT -- With two centres -- Angus Reid (back) and Adam Baboulas (broken fibula) -- down, necessity has forced the Lions to rush along Matt Albright, a 2013, fifth-round draft pick from St. Mary’s.

The 21-year-old Albright, who has never played the position before, is taking second-team reps at centre behind Matt Norman, who is also new to the position. A rookie guard last year, Norman was thrown to the wolves early when three veteran O-linemen went down with injuries on the first day of camp. Norman showed he could handle the step up in class by starting in the 2012 season opener.

Now Matt Albright is becoming somebody akin to the Matt Norman of 2013.

“Matt’s been consistent, he’s getting better every single day, he’s not being dominated physically and he’s very, very strong and intelligent,” head coach Mike Benevides said of Albright. “He’s one of the most pleasant surprises I can remember in a long time. He’s just a very smart kid who takes a lot of pride in his high grades. Nothing seems to faze him, as it would for a lot of kids in his position.”

“Injuries are always a part of football,” Albright said. “It’s hard when you lose two people at the same position, because your depth chart really feels it. It’s just something we’re dealing with. Hopefully, the guys can bounce back.”

Baboulas, injured in an afternoon practice Tuesday, is expected to be out from four to five weeks. Reid’s timetable is indefinite.

VALLI RETURNS-- Veteran guard Dean Valli, who had knee surgery in December, took limited reps Wednesday in his first participation on the practice field, slightly ahead of schedule.

“It’s great to get Dean assimilated and the process of his return started,” Benevides said. “I don’t anticipate him playing in the first preseason game (June 14 in Calgary). Let’s see if he can play in the second one (June 21, against Edmonton, at BC Place).”

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